The Civil War Soldier - His Personal Items

By Robert Jones

The personal objects left behind by the Civil War soldier are small windows which allow us to get a brief glimpse into the most momentous part of his life. When I came across an item to use in this book - what we might consider today as trivial - I tried to figure out why it was so important to him. In today’s “world of disposable goods”, who would take the time to meticulously inscribe their name or initials in such an inanimate object as a razor or soap dish? We may think it was done to prove ownership, maybe it could identify him if killed or wounded, or maybe it was just out of boredom. Some of these scenarios might be true, but I think it was much more than that. He knew the war would be scrupulously studied by future generations. Many of these veterans carefully packed away their menial possessions as a personal time capsule, hoping that someone in the future would find them and if only for a brief moment, remember their small part in American History.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 2, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329184961

Robert Jones

Robert Jones was born in Gloucester in 1957 and read Philosophy and English at Cambridge. He is a director at Wolff Olins, one of the world's best brand consulting firms, and has worked as a consultant in corporate communications for 16 years, with companies such as Andersen Consulting, Cameron McKenna and the National Trust. He lectures at Oxford Business School on marketing.

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The Civil War Soldier - His Personal Items

The Civil War Soldier - His Personal Items

By Robert Jones

The Civil War Soldier – His Personal Items

Copyright © 2015 by Robert Jones

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without the written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations, references, or embodied in critical essays and reviews.

Photography, layout and design by Robert Jones

Special thanks to:

The Library of Congress – Prints & Photographs Division

The United States Department of Defense

New York State Library – Manuscripts and Special Collections

OTHER BOOKS BY ROBERT JONES:

The Civil War Canteen, published 2007

Battle of Gettysburg – The Relics, Artifacts & Souvenirs, published 2008, (Revised 2011)

Children at the Battle of Gettysburg – Their Unforgettable Summer, published 2010

The Civil War Canteen – Second Edition, published 2011

Civil War Artillery – A Pictorial Introduction, published 2012

The Civil War Soldier – His Personal Items, published 2014 (paperback & hardcover)

Book covers: Artifacts from author’s collection

ISBN # 978-1-329-18496-1

Foreword Acknowledgement

There are very few people who know more about America’s history than William Chemerka. He is an award-winning educator, lecturer, actor and writer. Chances are, when watching the History Channel or C-Span, you probably seen Bill giving his thoughts and comments on some historic topic or book. As a member of the Screen Actors Guild, he has appeared in several hit movies. This isn’t even counting his musical skills and song writing.

I have known Bill for quite a few years and he has definitely been a mentor in my comprehension of the Civil War and 19th century America. I am truly honored that he took time out of his busy schedule to pen the Foreword for this project. His encouragement and support has been a key motivator for the book’s completion.

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1    OFF TO WAR! – HURRY BEFORE IT’S ALL OVER

Chapter 2    RELIGIONS – GOD IS ON OUR SIDE

Chapter 3    PRIVATE PURCHASES – JUST A LITTLE INSURANCE

Chapter 4    PHOTOGRAPHS – PLEASE SEND ME YOUR LIKENESS

Chapter 5    CLOTHING – NEVER ENOUGH, NEVER FITS

Chapter 6    THE U.S. SANITARY COMMISSION – THE SOLDIER’S ANGEL

Chapter 7    THE CIVIL WAR SUTLER – PAY ME NOW OR PAY ME LATER

Chapter 8    CAMP LIFE – SURVIVAL AND BOREDOM

Chapter 9    FOOD AND COOKING – IT TAKES SOME INGENUITY

Chapter 10  LIGHTING – KEEP THE MATCHES DRY

Chapter 11  READING AND WRITING – AGAIN, NO MAIL

Chapter 12  PERSONAL HYGIENE – SOME CARED, MANY DID NOT

Chapter 13  MUSIC – REMINDS ME OF HOME

Chapter 14  MEDICINE – TAKE THIS DAILY, IT WILL CURE EVERYTHING

Chapter 15  PLAYING GAMES – MAKES ME FORGET THE FIGHTING

Chapter 16  DRINKING, GAMBLING, SMOKING, ETC. – AIN’T LIKE HOME

Chapter 17  IT’S FINALLY OVER – NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME

FOREWORD

The story of the American Civil War has captivated readers for over 150 years. Thousands of books have been written about the causes and results of the war, the major battles, the leading field commanders, strategies and tactics, the weapons, slavery and emancipation, the economics of war, foreign diplomacy, the home front, and, of course, the soldiers who fought and died during the conflict.

Robert Jones’ The Civil War Soldier – His Personal Items explores and explains the daily life and times of the common soldier with vivid images of numerous artifacts, photographs, letters, and documents, most of which are part of the author’s extensive collection of objects from the War Between the States.

The Civil War Soldier – His Personal Items begins with Off to War! – Hurry Before It’s All Over, and continues with thoughtful and descriptive presentations about soldiers’ religious beliefs, clothing and other personal effects, the role of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, the ubiquitous sutler, the monotony of camp life, the joys associated with music and games, the horrors of battlefield medicine, and notes concerning the Golden Age of Quackery. These interesting passages provide readers with a better sense of understanding about the devastating experiences of war – both on and off the battlefield.

Jones provides poignant glimpses into the lives of sorrowful families who searched for missing and fallen soldiers. The author also presents observations about prisoner of war camps and offers details about the psychological wounds of war. Another insightful part of the book focuses on letters written by civilian Caroline Cowles Richards who commented on General Robert E. Lee’s surrender and President Lincoln’s death.

This carefully assembled and organized volume ends appropriately with It’s Finally Over – Nothing Will Ever Be The Same. For the United States of America and the Confederate States of America, nothing was the same after 1865. Slavery had ended, the Confederacy was no more, the Union had been preserved, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers were dead.

To be sure, each chapter is unique to the divided nation during 1861-1865. Yet many sections of the book contain elements which share similarities with soldiers who have fought in every war in our nation’s history. Jones, a Vietnam veteran who earned a Bronze Star Medal while serving with the 319th Field Artillery of the 101st Airborne Division, understands that connection.

The Civil War Soldier – His Personal Items is an excellent introduction to the Great Rebellion, and it also serves as an attractive reference for avid readers who eagerly embrace every new page dedicated to the Civil War. 

William R. Chemerka

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Co-founder: The North Jersey Civil War Round Table

Dinner time at a 71st New York Infantry camp site

PREFACE

As I mentioned in my previous books, I knew little about the Civil War until 1988, when I pretty much stumbled upon the 125th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg. For me it ignited a spark for what I can only perceive as a dormant passion which I had since I was a child. It probably goes back to when I first seen the epic movie on the Civil War, Gone with the Wind. There was one scene that had a lasting impression on me; it was when Scarlett came upon the multitude of wounded and dying soldiers in Atlanta.

After the Gettysburg visit I was determined to learn all I could about the Civil War – I almost felt guilty for being naive on this major event in American History, especially when I spent my entire life only a three hour drive away. I would now have to make up for lost time, and as anyone who knows me would say, I went all out.

It started with buying books and collecting a few battlefield relics and as this interesting time period began to sink in, I wanted to see more by visiting other battlefields. In these historic areas I would seek out relic and antique shops to add to my modest but growing collection. Of course there were also the museums, which I would spend hours photographing and examining an array of artifacts pertaining to the war. When home I would settle for checking out the local museums and historical societies.

Now I wanted to experience the Civil War in a different genre by becoming a reenactor. I previously served in the U.S. Army, so even though there was over a century difference, many things were still the same. In time I went on to become president of our organization. At this point I had a growing Civil War collection and as a reenactor, I participated in numerous living histories, which allowed me to set up displays and exhibits to help others learn about the era.

For some reason, not exactly sure why, I was drawn towards collecting Civil War canteens – maybe because of its personal nature; this lead to writing my first book on the subject in 2007. Realizing that there has never been a serious study attempted on Gettysburg artifacts, I went ahead and published a book to fill that void. After that I did my first children’s book – of course on Gettysburg, why not? Serving with the artillery while in the Army, and collecting many artillery artifacts, I went ahead and published my last book on artillery. In between I would work on some magazine articles.

With my constantly growing interest in the Civil War over the past 25 years, I discovered something important which I may have been overlooking – the soldier himself. The cannons, guns, swords and battles were imperative but I came to realize that what really mattered to the common soldier were the little things. A letter from home, a can of fruit, book, photograph, or just sharing stories with comrades around the campfire – this is what inspired me to write The Civil War Soldier – His Personal Items.

INTRODUCTION

In 1861, most young men never traveled more than ten or twenty miles from where they were born and raised. Many were farmers and were just doing what their families did for prior generations. Completing the eighth-grade was considered more than enough education for the times – most of their parents had little or none. This was also